| No one expects to wake up in the morning and be seriously injured but trauma happens every day to people of all ages and all walks of life. That’s why University Hospital’s Level I Trauma Center offers the highest level of care every day, around the clock. Trauma Care at University Health System
It starts with arrival. Most trauma patients arrive by ambulance or in an air ambulance helicopter, such as those operated by San Antonio AirLIFE. Our on-call trauma team is notified when a seriously injured patient in en-route to the Emergency Center. Before the patient arrives, they prepare all of the items needed for rapid assessment. Resuscitation The first stop is the Resuscitation Room inside the Emergence Center, where the trauma team assesses and documents injuries and provides immediate intervention to try to stabilize the patient. Lab facilities, a CAT Scan Suite, and other diagnostic tools are nearby to provide fast information. The first hour after a serious injury is often called the "Golden Hour." It refers to a time period during which there is the highest likelihood that prompt medical treatment will prevent death. It is well established that the victim's chances of survival are greatest if they receive care within a short period of time after a severe injury; however, there is no evidence to suggest that survival rates drop off after 60 minutes. Some have come to use the term to refer to the core principle of rapid intervention in trauma cases, rather than a critical one-hour time period. In many cases, trauma patients are in need of emergency surgery and rapidly sent to an operating suite on the second floor of the hospital. The surgical trauma team includes specialists from nearly every surgical sub-specialty. - Trauma Surgeons
- Neurosurgeons
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
- Vascular Surgeons
- Cardiovascular Surgeon
- Ophthalmologists
- Anesthesiologists
- Radiologists
- Surgical Nurses
- Surgical Technicians
While the trauma patient is in the operating room (OR), families wait in the inpatient OR waiting room on the second floor of the hospital. A phone in the waiting room lets the surgical nurse update family members during surgery. A surgeon will come to the waiting room after surgery to give a report and answer questions. Intensive Care After surgery, many adult trauma patients are transferred to the Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit (STICU) on the 10th floor of University Hospital (D elevators). Our highly-trained and experienced STICU nurses care for no more than two patients at a time. The STICU is designed to allow our seriously injured and ill patients time to rest and recover. Family and friends may only visit during designated visiting hours. To protect patients from infection, children under the age of 14 may not visit STICU unless special permission is granted by the nurse manager. STICU Visiting Hours
- 9:30 -11:30 a.m.
- 1:30 - 4 p.m.
- 8:30 - 10:30 p.m.
A large waiting area is located on the eighth floor for friends and family. A courtesy phone is located in the area and nurses can contact family members with condition reports. Important Phone Number To ask about your loved one’s condition, please call 210-358-2590. You will be asked to designate one family contact and information will only be given to that person via phone. The phone number for the eighth floor waiting room is 210-358-0148. Rehabilitation Depending on the type of injury, trauma patients often require physical rehabilitation in the hospital, or on an outpatient basis. Rehabilitation often begins as soon as a patient is stable, though therapists may be called to evaluate some patients earlier to help patients gain a maximum level of function as soon as possible. Many of our patients are referred to the Reeves Rehabilitation Center located on the sixth floor of University Hospital with outpatient services available on the third floor and at four satellite locations in San Antonio. The center provides trauma patients with: - Physical and occupational therapies to help patients regain control of their muscles
- Speech pathologists and respiratory therapists to help patients work on speech, breathing and swallowing
- Vocational and recreational therapists to help patients with life-style and job-related skills
Trauma Follow-up Care After discharge from the hospital, trauma patients are seen at trauma follow-up clinics at University Hospital by the same surgeons and resident physicians who monitored them in the hospital. This important continuity of care helps assure our patients received the best care through every step of the healing process and maximizes their ability to regain as much of their "pre-trauma" life as possible. Trauma patients in clinic are encouraged to ask questions and get additional information on wound care, therapy, medications and returning to school and work. | 
